Luminous advertising device



Oct. 21, .1941. J, H. McCAULEY 2,260,082

LUMINOUS ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22'. 1939 Patented Get. 21, 194i 1,3,;

John H. McCauley, Hillside, N." J., assignor to Joseph F. Frese, Baltimore, Md., as trustee Application September 22, 193'9;.-s..-i..i No. 296,139

3 Claims. (01. 441 132) z This invention relates to improvements in luminous advertisingdevices. In carrying out the invention I provide an "animated electric discharge device of the type illustrated in my Patents No.

2,133,427 and No.'2,l33,206, both dated October 11, 1938, as a source of light, and this is arranged in a suitable casing having one or more openings in its walls. A glass plate extends over each opening and each plate is formed, on one side at least, with a surface which causes refraction and diffusion of the light passing through it. Lettering or advertising matter to which it is desired to call attention may be painted directly on the outer side of the plate; but I prefer to place the lettering or advertising on a plain glass plate which is placed in front of the diffusing or retracting plate, and the advertising plate is removable and interchangeable with other advertising plates. flickering light from the discharge device is ditfused and evenly distributed throughout the area of the advertising plate, and appears through the clear portion of said plate as a constantly quivering light. Instead of using a clear glass plate with a design or letter thereon, I may use an opaque plate of material such as metal or fibre with the design or lettering cut from the plate, and in The such case the quivering light shows through the openings in the plate. Such opaque plates may be removable and interchangeable with other similar plates having different letters or designs. In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portable sign embodying my invention in which the animated tube and the glass panels are arranged vertically; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section on the line Y 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of one otthe retracting plates shown in Figs. 2 and 3, before being chipped;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of one of the retract- 7 ing plates, showing the ribs after they have been chipped; I

Fig. 7 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention in which a sign panel and the I animated tube are arranged horizontally;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section through the device on the line iii-l0 of Fig. 9;

4 Fig. 11 is a rear. view of the retracting plate shown in Figs.;.9 and 10, and,

I Fig. 12' is a transverse section through a retracting plate having ribs on both sides.

1 Referring to Figs. 1-7, inclusive, A, Fig-1, in.-

frame a, rectangular in cross-section, and, suitably supported in upright position; in the center of the'tram'e, is, an animated discharge tubeb of the type illustrated in my Patent No. 2,133,206, dated October 11, 1938, this tube containing a rare gas and having electrodes 3 and 4 at its ends, and within the tube is a filler 5 of insulating material which altords numerous paths for the electrical discharge and a conductor 6 applied to the exterior of the tube causes active shifting of the course of the discharge, and hence a flickering luminous effect. A small transformer a mounted in the base and having its high tension terminals connected to the electrode terminals provides the necessary current for operating the tube.

The upright frame a comprises four metal corner posts 2, the spaces between which are closed by glass plates d for retracting the light emanating from the tube, each retracting plate bearing a sign to which it is desired to call attention, such as the word soda or candy, as illustrated in Fig. 1. These plates may be withdrawn and replaced by other plates bearing different signs. The retracting plates diffuse the light evenly throughout the area of the sign. The preferred form of retracting plate is shown in Figs. 4-7, inclusive. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, one side of the plate d has longitudinal ribs 1 throughout its length while the opposite side 8 is smooth. The retraction of the light is improved by chipping these ribs, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

This may be done by striking them with a light I animated tube and hence the light passing through the retracting plate is diitused evenly throughout the length and width of the sign plates. In Figs. 6 and 7, surfaces produced by chipping the ribs are indicated'at I.

In Fig. 8'is shown a device embodying my invention in which the tube, a retracting plate and a sign plate are in horizontal position. This device comprises a suitable metal box F of rectangular form, having one side out out to permit the light to shine through the refracting plate [2 which is secured within the box. The glass sign plate [0 extends over the opening in the box and may be inserted or removed through a slot 9. The animated tube I3 is suitably supported at its ends in horizontal position. At the center of the box or casing and back of the tube is arranged a reflector M to reflect the light toward the refracting plate. The refracting plate is shown in 'Fig. 11 and is the same as in '6. The ribs on the plate are chipped with strokes of a hammer directed from the central part of the plate toward its side edges, producing the nilmerous facets l5 so as to cause .r'ermcuen an even distribution of the light throughout the sign plate. v

In Fig. 12, I have shown a glass retracting plate l2 having ribs on both "sides which may be chipped and used to insure even distribution of the light, but ordinarily the refracting plates with one ismo'oth side will be used.

Instead of having 'aclear glass sign plate bearing characters in lop'aque letters, or placing isuch letters or characters on "the smooth side bf the retracting plate, I may substitute for the removl :able sign plate a shee't or plate ofopaque material, such a's "metal 'or fibre, with the design or :letters cutout-of the material so that the light will be obscured ex'ce'pt :through'the openings in thema- The chipping of the ridges produces innumerable facets, at various angles, and the surfaces of these facets are brighter than the molded surfaces of the ribs.

What I claim is:

1. In a luminous advertising device, a casing,

7 anlaglass'panel one side of the casing having a plurality of ribs on its inner side extending lengthwise of the tube, the ribs having a pluterial, where a rapidly quivering light "show 930 through.

rality tof facets produced by chipping the ribs.

3. Ina luminous advertising device, a casing, an animated electrical discharge tube within the casing adapted to cause a flickering light therein, 21111 afg'lasspanel Ill-1 iii'lejsld-b'fth CaSihg having .a p n-nay ribs on its inner side extending length-wise oithe tube, the .ribsihaving a plurality of tacets produced by chipping the ribs at opposite sides :of the central portions of the panel in o osite directions. V

'JGH'N MCCAULEY. 

